Every lady fantasizes about looking her most attractive on her wedding day and creates many visions of that appearance. She imagines everything, from dressing to applying make-up, and it all makes her feel like she’s in seventh heaven. When it comes to an Indian bride, she carries 16 pieces of jewelry (Solah Shringar) to enhance her attractiveness. In fact, it is a beauty ritual not to overlook any of them when completing the bridal appearance. The 16 decorations encompass a lady from head to toe in an unusual way.
We will discuss both Indian bridal shringar accessories and the Solah Shringar importance for those who believe in them as part of the wedding rite in this post.
Before delving into the Solah Shringar Wikipedia, it’s worth noting two ceremonies that are also celebrated and referred to as the ceremonial bath.
This wonderful bath consists of two phases.
Hair Wash
After applying scent oils to the bride’s hair, a combination of herbs is used to wash it. This blend contains Brahmi, Amla, Shikakai, Bhringraj, and Aloe Vera.
Scrub (Organic) (Ubtan) Ubtan, which is rubbed on the bride’s face, hands, arms, and legs, is the key to her beautiful skin. This organic scrub is made up of a variety of powders (sandalwood, turmeric, and gramme flour), liquids (milk, oil), and fragmented herbs. Needless to say, the bride looks beautiful and radiant after a bath.
Now is the moment when a bride is adorned with 16 Shringar.
Bridal Dress
The bride’s ancestry determines the sort of traditional garment she wears; it might be a sari, lehenga, or salwar suit. In these clothes, heavy embroidery with golden thread is also common. Mythology – Red is considered an auspicious hue and is frequently seen in bridal gowns (fully or in combination with other bright colors).
Braided Hair
A bun and a matching braid are created. Flowers (Gajra)A coiled string of flowers (typically Jasmine) and hair ornaments embellish the hair bun and braid.
Mythology – The three sections of hair on a plate represent: The three sacred rivers of India are the Ganga, the Yamuna, and the Saraswati. Brahm, Vishnu, and Mahesh are the Hindu Gods’ trinity. The bride’s father, in-laws, and her own family, join both families. According to one story, the bride’s open hair may charm the groom, thus it is bound up.
Vermillion (Sindoor)
The husband applies this sign of matrimony to the bride’s center parting of the hair during the wedding rites. Its crimson tint indicates a woman’s childbearing potential and is said to be lucky. Mythology – This mystical emblem represents the energies of Parvati and Sati. It is thought that if a lady wears sindoor, the goddess Parvati protects her husband and grants him a longer life. It draws cosmic energy and bestows wealth, fortune, and health.
Kohl (Anjana or Kajal)
Kohl is traditionally prepared from the soot of an earthen lamp (Diya or Deepak) and applied to the top and lower rims of the eyelids.
Mythology – Because it is thought that the bride may be plagued with bad eyes due to her striking beauty, eyeliner is applied to ward off the evil eyes and protect the bride.
Nose Ring (Nath)
A nose ring consisting of pearls, jewels, and diamonds is worn in the left nostril. A chain wrapped over the face and tucked into the hair extends several nose-rings to the left ear.
Mythology – Spirituality, royalty, courage, and a rite of passage are all represented by the nose ring.
Ear Ring
Earrings are worn after piercing the ears and are available in a variety of styles with inlaid jewels, stones, and diamonds. Jhoomar is a gold earring with a suspended pattern.
Mythology – Jhoomar’s temple design is deemed fortunate.
Chain & Necklace
During the marriage rites, the woman wears a chain (typically made of gold) while the husband wears a necklace made of black beads. Mangal-sutra is a black-beaded necklace decorated with jewels, stones, and diamonds.
Mythology – A bride wears it for the rest of her life since it represents marriage.
Armband (Bajubandh)
Armbands are composed of gold, pearls, diamonds, or silver and are worn on the upper arm, commonly on the sleeves of a shirt. The most popular armlet designs are Mugal, Jaipuri, and Rajasthani.
Mythology – It is thought that the armbands defend against evil by keeping it at bay.
Heena Tattoo (Mehndi)
Plant-Based Sacred Red Ink (Aalta or Mahavar or Mahur) In some regions of India (such as Bengal and tribal communities), a crimson ink known as Alta is applied to the outside border of the foot.
Mythology – It is stated that the darker the color of your Mehandi, the deeper your love for your soul partner. Henna is said to keep sadness, sickness, and death at bay by defending against negative consequences. Henna represents the essence of love, the power of the link, and the bond between the bride and husband.
Bangles (Kangan)
Bangles, which are worn on the wrists of the hands, are another indication of a marriage. Glass, iron, metal, ivory, porcelain, and gold are used to make them.
Some brides (particularly Punjabi and Sikh brides) embellish their bangles with colorful and eye-catching Kaliras.
Mythology – It is customary for a newlywed lady to refrain from performing household activities until her bridal bangles have been removed.
Thumb Ring
A bride wears thumb rings in addition to the other rings; the ring features miniature mirrors.
Mythology – As the bride wears a veil, the little mirrors embedded in it allow her to see both her life mate and herself.
Waistband
The waistband is a lovely belt that wraps around the waist. It is adorned with jewels and valuable stones. This ornament not only adds to the elegance of the sari or garment but also helps hold it in place.
Mythology – The gold waistband represents a symbol of future fortune. Some people associate it with the couple’s future child’s health.
Anklets & Toe Rings (Payal or Pajeb and Bicchuaas)
An anklet is a silver chain that is worn around the ankle. This lovely jewelry has small bells around the borders that generate a rhythmic melody when the bride walks or moves.
Mythology – A bride wears anklets to call attention to her appearance and proclaim her admission into her groom’s home and life.
Because gold is revered as God, these anklets are constructed of silver rather than gold. Wearing them on the lowest part of the body (the feet) is considered rude and a bad omen.
Scent (Athar)
This is administered to the bride to maintain her scent beautiful; it keeps her fresh during the wedding’s lengthy ceremonies.
Mythology- The scent’s long-lasting sweet smell represents a cheerful and pleasant aura, which is said to preserve the atmosphere auspicious and welcome. From affluent to poor, and from cities to villages, practically all Indian families believe in and obey these traditions, whether they understand the ramifications or not. Indian weddings, on the other hand, are vibrant and colorful. Needless to say, they are given some modern twists, but they are still compelling and worth viewing.